Pipe-coupling.



W. R. WILLETTS.

PIPE COUPLING. Q 7 APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1909- 954,068: PatentedAp'r.5, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. WILLETTS, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN PINCOMPANY, OF WATER/BURY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

rim-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

Application filed May-15, 1909. Serial No. 496,189.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM R. \VILLETTS, a citizen of the-UnitedStates, and a resident of Waterbury, in the county of New Haven andState of Connecticut, "have 1n'-'- vented certain new and usefulImprovements in Pipe-Couplings, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to couplings or joints for pipes, and comprisesmore particularly certain improvements in such couplings or joints madefrom sheet metal by a mechanical working.

Pipecouplings of the general nature to which my invention relates aremore particularly intended for low-pressure service, as in waste pipesand overflows. It has been proposed to make such couplings from aninitial sheet metal tube, and various apparatus and methods ofconstruction have been employed to roduce them. There are, however,certain inherent difficulties to the Working of sheet metal into therequired form, and by reason of these difliculties the finished producthas usually had certain disadvantageous features. In the first place,the usual practice is to start with a sheet metal tube and stamp, draw,or otherwise Work from this a branched tubular structure. For example,in the manufacture of T joints or couplings, the initial sheet metaltube must have a branch worked from the side wall. Such a treatmentnecessarily has a' tendency to produce undue thinness in that portion ofthe wall of the initial tube which is to supply the material for thebranch. Another consideration is that if the branch is made long enoughto conveniently take a serviceable thread the thinning of the adjacentportion of the initial tube is especially great, and at the same timethe Wall'of the branch is too thin for practical purposes. On the otherhand, if the branch is made short enough to reta n sufiiclent thicknessin theparts there is usually insuflicient length for secure threading.To

overcome these difficulties it has been proposed to crowd the metal fromthe ends of the initial tube in the direction of that portion from whichthe branch is to be wrought. There are still, however, disadvantages insuch a treatment. The crowding of the metal in that way must have a badeffect upon the portion of the wall of the initial tube which isopposite to that part supplying the material for the branch.

The principal object of my invention is to avoid the difliculty whichpresents itself in respect to the added branch.

Other objects and features of my invention will be apparent from thedescription of an embodiment of the same, shown in the accompanyingdrawings.

In said drawings Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section through theinitial tube after the branch has been worked out from' an end View ofthe same, with-the pipe con- D nected to the added branch removed. Fig.6 is a longitudinal vertical section of the tightening collar em loyedin joining pipes by the coupling, an Fig. 7 is an elevation of thestrengthenin or threading sleeve inserted in the adde branch, as willhereinafter he described.

Referring now more specifically to said drawings, 10 indicates theinitial tube of sheet metal which is assumed to have been perforated andstruck out to form the branch 11. The particular method of eifectingthis operation is not a part of my present invention, but this may bedone in any suitable way. This added branch 11 is not formed ofsuiiicient length to conveniently receive the threading, but, at thesame time, it is thinner than the wall of the initial tube fromwhich itwas produced. In order to lengthen this branch 11, and, at the same timestrengthen it, I employ a strengthening .or threading sleeve 12, whichis shown in detail in Fig. 7. .This strengthening or threading sleeve isinserted in the added branch 11 and suitably secured, as by brazing,welding or any other treatment suitable for this purpose. The sleevethus inserted has a lower portion whose outside diameterv fit snuglyagainst the end of the branch for the sake of neatness and rigidity,while at the same time serving to arrest the sleeve at the properposition in the course of manufacture. The inner shoulder of the sleeve12 serves as a stop for the section of pipe to be connected to thebranch by the coupling.

The ends of the initial tube are threaded in a well-known manner toreceive tightening collars 13, shown in detail in Fig. 6. The functionof these collars is to squeeze a packing ring against the outer wall ofthe piping inserted in the respective ends of the coupling; hence theyare preferably in the form of a nut, so as to be readily operated by awrench. The tightening collars 13 are threaded at one end on the innersurface, while at the other end they hear an inner annular flange.Between the annular flange and the threaded portion is an annular recessor groove, and in this groove fits the packing ring 14, of rubber orother suitable yielding material. The inner diameter of the packing ring14 is normally the-sameas the innerdiameter of the annular flange at theend of the tightenin collar. This dimension is substantially t 1e sameas the outside diameter of the section of pipe to be inserted and hencethe pipe can be slipped into place conveniently. Due to the fact thatthe packing ring is located in a groove, any

tendency of the pipe, while being inserted,

acking ring along with it is to carry the overcome. A ter the pipe isinserted in the coupling in this manner the tightening collar is screwed.down, thus squeezing the packing ring against the outside wall of thepipe and maklng a secure connection. A

similar collar and connecting means are eniployed for securing the pipein the branch.

The particular material from which the couplings are made is not a partof my invent-ion, as it is apparent that any suitable material capableof being worked in the manner set forth may be employed.

1. A pipe coupling comprising a tubular member with a branch wroughtfrom its wall and a strengthening and lengthenin sleeve secured to andprojecting from sai wrought branch.

2. A pipe coupling comprising a tubular member with a branch Wroughtfromits walland a sleeve secured in said wrought branch and having aninternal abutment" shoulder.

3. A pipe coupling comprising a tubular member with a branch wroughtfrom its wall and a sleeve having larger and smaller ends, said sleevedisposed with its smaller end within said wrought branch and with itslarger end projecting from said wrought branch.

at. A pipe coupling comprising a tubular member with a wrought branchand a sleeve having larger and smaller ends formin inner and outerabutment shoulders, sa-i sleeve disposed with its smaller end within thewrought branch and with its larger end projecting from said wroughtbranch and having external threading.

WILLIAM R. WILLETTS.

